Silicone Vegetable Steamer for Instant Pot

If you have non-stick pans, you can't use the metal steamer insert. this is a good solution to that. It is a bit stiff (probably needs to be for durability) and that makes it a bit awkward to squeeze into a small pot. The handles tend to flop and get in the way when I put my vegetables in to be steamed. When you remove it from the pot, do it slowly or the product will fall out. Probably not a problem in larger pots, but I live alone and steam small quantities of veggies. HOWEVER, it works very well and I would recommend this to anyone seeking to steam your food. OK, not as classy as a bamboo Chinese steamer, BUT it is a whole lot easier to use. If you are looking for a steamer, this is the one to get. I have one of those Chinese bamboo steamers, but never use it because it is a hassle to set up and clean. So, it is decorative. I use this silicone steamer.

It works well, and is flexible to fit in various pots. Cleaning is really easy, and there is no concern about metal scratching my pots. It is small and good for a single person, or a couple. Look at something bigger if you need to serve a larger crew. -1 star for no instructions--especially because the amazon page (at least when I bought it) said that it won't melt if used properly, but there is no instructions on what qualifies as proper use. However, we haven't had any issues, and it is a great product.

This is a pretty good invention, it's so convenient! Originally I bought the conventional metal steamer that collapses or expands. Hey, guess what - those metal ones can ruin you pans!! This silicone steamer is great! Doesn't melt, doesn't stick, doesn't scratch, easy cleanup, and easy storage too!! It is a tight fit in a small saucepan but do-able. Works best in the medium saucepan. I would imagine you could use it in an even bigger pan but I haven't tried yet. The handles are an added bonus, easy to grab, hot but not too hot, and they corral the food in the basket. I would buy it again.

It works ok, but it's a little too flexible to hold things very well. Also, the basket doesn't sit high enough out of the water for some uses. But it's inexpensive, and stores easily. If you don't often need to use a steamer basket, this will do the trick. If you need to use a basket often, I'd opt for a different one.

I really like my steamer! I, too, had been using an older metal one. Truth be told, 35+ years old. Sometimes the metal to metal contact on a prolonged basis would leave marks that I had to clean out. I even learned the hard way when turning a can of condensed milk into caramel that you CANNOT put the can directly on the bottom of the pot. I did, and well, let's just say that nice pot is now a nice pot for use in the garden. It created a pin hole in the bottom that leaks water all over the stove! Who would have thunk! If I had this and used it then, I could have saved my great, huge pot.Another nice thing about using this silicone steamer is that it does not absorb heat. That means that you won't burn your hands when you reach into the pot without gloves to remove it. How many times have we all tried to remove something from the stove thinking we can handle the heat only to find out otherwise during the transport stage. I know I'm guilty of doing that! You don't have to worry about that with this steamer. Just grab the handles and off you go.Before I purchased it, I was concerned about the support for the bottom. I did not want the steamer to be resting on the bottom of the pot as that would defeat its use. This steamer has nice supporting feet so that it does not sit on the bottom. There are ample and sufficient holes to allow the steam to surround your food, too.Also, this steamer does not have any funny smell when using it. You don't want any added smells to those lovely veggies you are cooking, just the smell of the veggies! Yum yum healthy steamed veggies.Finally, as an added bonus, I have to say I really like the beautiful blue color! Since it comes in only one color, I'm so glad they chose this one.I hope this is helpful to those considering purchasing this silicone veggie steamer!

Handles are only 2 1/2 inches long, and if they can't be locked closed over the top of your dish, they flop down between the dish and the sides of the instant pot insert, which means you can't easily reach them, so they're useless for safely pulling the hot dish out of the hot insert. This sling works fine for small single-serving dishes, not for a dish that holds more than about 3 cups. It's useless for my 8-cup souffle dish (pictured), which is what I usually make rice in.

I bought this to utilize in my Instant Pot, and was a little disappointed. To be fair, this is probably a product that works better with some applications than others. I purchases to use with my Instant Pot for potatoes (cut for potato salad) and meats like ribs.I have the 8 qt Instant Pot, and this leaves approximately 1/2 inch gap between the basket and the wall of the Pot. With the flexible nature of the silicone, you also lose the ability to place food on the outer rim of the basket. In the end you lose a lot of surface area to hold the food.One of the reasons I bought this was to be able to throw it in the dishwasher, but it seems to leave a soapy residue on the surface.I bought this to replace my collapsible metal steamer basket, but in the end the metal one is what I usually grab.

I am in love with this steamer! I was using a metal one for a long time and it would leave deposits in my pans that I didn't like. This is super, easy to clean too. I prefer washing silicone products by hand to increase their life. But this has gone thru the dishwasher a number of times because my kids don't pay attention. I can't believe the stuff I find they have put in the dishwasher!Pros: easy to clean Fits in almost any pot secondary to its flexibility No more residue in pot from metal steamer Not scalding hot to touch when I want to reposition or removeCons: none I have encountered yet